Chaeles g



(No ModeL) G. G. PERKINS. GONDUIT FOR ELECTRICAL GUNDUGTORS.

No. 319,998. Patented June 16, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcr.

CHARLES G. PERKINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE IMPERIALELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CONDUIT FOR ELECTRICAL CGNDUCTDRS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,998, dated Tune16,1885.

Application filed January 16, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. PERKINS, acitizen of theUnited States,anda residentof New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Conduits forElectrical Conductors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to conduits for electrical conductors designed forattachment to walls and ceilings.

In that form of my invention which is designed to be applied to ceilingsI use a strip of wood or other insulating material, which I call thecarrier strip, and on opposite sides of which are cut grooves made onconverging lines. The grooves are so cut as to slope downward when thecarrier-strips are in position. Conducting-wires of an electric 2Ocircuit or circuits are placed in the grooves,

and over the wires are placed small strips of insulating material, whichI call groovestrips. These strips are made to fit the grooves, though itis not necessary that they should fit tightly, inasmuch as, owing to theposition of the conducting-wires and groovestrips when the carrier-stripis secured in place, their own weight tends to hold them withoutdisplacement.

In that form of my invention which is designed to be applied to wallsparallel grooves sloping downward are made on the same side of thecarrier-strip. The wires and groovestrips are held in position bygravity, as beiore.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a cross-section through 00 x inFig. 2 of my improved device as applied to a ceiling. Fig. 2 representsa side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through y y inFig. at of my improved device as applied to a wall, and Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of the same.

Similar letters refer to similar parts through out the drawings, inwhich to, Figs. 1 and 2,

represents the strip of insulating material called the carrier-strip,I), the upper plane surface thereof adapted to abut against the surfaceof a ceiling. c c are the converging grooves. .(Z d are the electricalconductors held in the grooves c c by the groove-strips e e. f in Figs.3 and l is also a strip of i11 sulating material, provided with grooves9, one above the other, both arranged on the side opposite the surfaceabutting against the wall when attached. h are the electricalconductors, which are held in the grooves g by means of the inclosinggroove-strips 2 The construction as shown in Figs. 3 and at is adaptedto be fastened to walls. In this construction the groovestrips may bedis 6o pensed with, if desired, as the conductors will be held inposition by their own weight.

It will be understood that the strip of insulating material a is firstloosely attached to walls or ceilings by means of screws in a mannerthat will allow the abutting surface thereof to remain free from thewall untilthe electrical conductors d and the groove-strips e c areproperly inserted in the grooves c c, after which the strip a isfastened tightly to the surface of the wall or ceiling, and the inclosingstrips 0 e are thereby secured in position.

I amaware that strips of insulating material provided with grooves forthe reception of electrical conductors which were held in position bystrips having a projection on each side thereof, said projectionsengaging with corresponding grooves on the main strip,have been used.

The conduits heretofore used lack the advantage which I obtain from mymethod of construction, in that with my method the wires or conductt rscan be removed, replaced, repaired, or examined without removing theconduit from the wall or ceiling. The old Sq methods are objectionable,because the conductors have to be placed in the grooves before the wholecan be attached to a wall or ceiling. These objections are obviated bymy invention, which I have fully described.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A conduit for electrical wires, consisting of a strip of insulatingmaterial provided with a groove or grooves, downwardly in- 5 clined andfilling strips therefor, whereby the weight of the wires and of thestrips retains them in place, and fastening devices therefor areavoided, as set forth.

2. The combination, with a strip of insu- 103 labing' material providedwith (lownwardly- York and State of New York this 12th day of inclinedgrooves, of electrical conductors and January, A. D. 1884. insulatinggroove-strips, the conductors and A l r groove-strips being adapted tobe held in po- CHARLES 1 ERkD sition by their own weight, substantiallyas \Vitnesses: shown and described J. A. HURDLE,

Signed at New York, in the county of New E. \VM. EDWARDS.

